Sugar & Lavender GARDENERS HAND SCRUB

Hello friend,

I love to give gifts from the garden.

Here's a very simple

 and inexpensive gift that just about anyone

would appreciate.

You only need 3 ingredients.

I found coconut oil at my DOLLAR TREE.

To make the scrub:

1/2 C. Coconut Oil- melted in microwave

1  1/2 C. White Sugar

10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

1 tsp. Lavender Buds- Optional

Clean jars with lids

(This recipe will fill 3 of these Ball jars )

Mix together and fill jars.

To use the sugar scrub:

Start with clean hands,

Take about an 1/8 of a teaspoon

of the scrub and put into your palm.

Rub front and back of hands.

Then rinse with cool water and pat dry with a towel.

The sugar will wash away and the 

oil and fragrance will remain.

Your hands will feel so soft !

It works great on feet

Then add socks !

NOTE:

DO NOT USE IN THE SHOWER!

It will be slippery and dangerous.

   

For a special touch, make labels for your scrub.

These beautiful labels came from

The Graphics Fairy

Please visit The Graphics Fairy !

(I used a different recipe )

The labels are the perfect size for wide mouth Ball jars

I cut out my labels and gave the front a light coat of MOD PODGE.

This will protect the paper.

Make sure your ink has dried first!

I used MOD PODGE again to adhere the label to 

the lid inserts. Let dry.

If any coconut oil gets on the label the Mod Podge

will protect the paper.

I divided my recipe into thirds and filled the jars.

Top off with more buds if you like!

Set the insert on the jar and then the ring.

I filled 6 jars, we will see how they do at the Fall Craft Fair.

I plan to make another batch for gifts.

Have a blessed week!

xo Lisa S

Front Yard Tour- More Flowers, Less Grass Project

Hi Friend,

Let's start here for a quick front yard tour.

We have a large grass area with flowers

that border the whole yard.

My husband does all the yardwork himself, I am his helper.

I love the grass, but it does need a lot of water.

In late SPRING we had a crazy idea.

We thought removing some grass would help to lower our water bill.

Most of our yard and side area has draught tolerant native plants.

My husband and I removed another huge amount of grass.

We divided some perennials that we already had-

Society Garlic is easy to divide. It is a good border filler.

We replaced the rock border.

Then filled in the area with shredded bark mulch.

By summer...wow !

We love the new look.

 

Everything continued to grow

We filled in areas with seeds.

Daisies around the mailbox.

Lavender does very well in my area.

We water by hand only when needed.

We like Mexican Marigolds and Mexican Sage

Lots of White and Yellow Yarrow

I love the orange and blue combination-

California Poppies and Nigella (Love-in-a-mist)

Salvia microphyll 'Hot Lips' and 'Baby Sage'

is easy to grow in my area, it can be

 cut back often to retain it's shape and size.

I grow lots of Calendula- Pot Marigolds to make salves and body butters

These Gaillardia- Blanket Flowers are so vivid!

On the hill, as we call it- I have Queen Annes Lace,

Rosemary, Calendula, Lavender ....it changes often.

It has helped to get the water bill lower!

Just in time for summer.

Here's the backyard project from a few years ago.

We are happy with the change.

Thanks for taking a tour with me-

xo Lisa S

Lemon Balm Tea

Hi friends,

I have been busy working in the garden.

 Summer will be here soon

and I need to do some 

clean up and Larkspur seed collecting today.

One of my favorite plants is Lemon Balm

 it needs to be cut back today before it blooms.

I love to grow LEMON BALM.

The scent is amazing.

If you enjoy the fresh scent of Lemons 

this plant is a must for your garden.

It grows very well in my area- it fact I hear some say 

it can take over. It is part of the mint family. 

The plant does not spread with runners it spreads by seed.

To keep your Lemon Balm neat and tidy 

trim the plant when you see it flowering.

It can be cut way back !

If you have a small space, it can be kept in a pot on a patio.

It does repel most insects.

My chickens loved to eat it!

...but most of all it makes great tea-

It's easy

Trim about 2 cups of fresh leaves.

Wash well, I like to use a salad spinner.

Fill jar with Lemon Balm leaves

I had to boil water in a kettle and then cover leaves to steep.

I used about 4 cups of water to cover the leaves

Just a few minutes-

 This makes just enough for you and a friend-

Soothing and delicious served warm

...but I recommend you make more.

I let the rest cool and transferred to a pitcher.

Store in the fridge.

You may decide to add more filtered water.

The tea is naturally sweet to us, but if you like a sweeter tea

add a bit of honey, agave or stevia.

Refreshing over ice !

You can dry the leaves too-

I prefer the taste of the fresh leaves.

What are some of the benefits of Lemon Balm Tea ?

The tea can improve sleep quality, and aid in digestion.

In can help with relieving anxiety and stress.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Always check with a healthcare professional

 if you have any concerns about trying something new.

What a treat for summer!

xo Lisa S

Butterfly Junk Journal with Twig Binding

 Hello my friend,

I thought I would share an easy summer project.

Maybe something you could take with you on a nature walk-

to take down some thoughts or even to draw things you see-

To make this small journal :

I used six scraps folded in half 6''by 9''

I used coffee to stain my papers.

Then set them aside to let them dry.

I wanted to used some butterflies on the cover.

I was thinking about making the journal look like a 

nature guide.

I found these butterflies.

You can use these for yourself.

They can be painted or colored with pencils.

I used some butterflies and paper scraps 

to collage the cover.

I used my sewing machine to stitch

around the edges of both front and back covers.

Find a twig close the length of your book

I used string to tie the twig to the fold of the papers.

It now looks like the binding.

I had some matching scraps from my collage page.

I folded them together.

I made a flap that comes to a point.

It's not too thick-

 I cut a small slit to tuck the point

into the opposite side when closed.

I put a grommet on the tag so I could hang

the little notebook on the journal like a tag.

Tie mini notepad to twig with bow.

Inside front cover-

You can see the thread ties on the inside pages.

I added a few butterfly stamps.

Thank you for taking the time to visit today!

Take care of yourself this summer.

xo Lisa S